The Post Up: Monta and Baron Outlast New Jersey

By: Holly MacKenzie
All-Star starters were announced last night and we’ve all seen and discussed them by now. I just wanted to say I was relieved when I saw that AI had moved ahead to take the PG spot. I wasn’t sure who my replacement would have been if McGrady had been voted in but I’m glad that the spot didn’t go to Tracy. While the race in the West sucks for CP3, Nash and Roy I can’t complain because I’m always cool with Iverson.

I still wish there was a way for Stephen Jax to be there.

How awful for the Heat when Dorell Wright and Udonis Haslem collided as Wright had his hands on a defensive board. The ball slipped off of his fingers and landed in the Spurs baske. Of course, it only makes sense. Only one basket, but in a one-point game that could have ended their losing streak I can’t imagine how frustrating that must have felt.

It is just unsettling to watch the Heat play during this losing streak. Even when they had a lead in the third, I was on the edge of my seat because I could feel it disappearing. I wonder if that is how they feel when they are playing. Playing to “not lose” rather than to win. I just want to see them get a damn win, hopefully they can get something to go their way against the Pacers on Saturday.

Hack-a-boone??? What the hell is going on in this NJ/GS game? I was surprised to see Belinelli come into the game and suddenly it makes sense. Oh Nellie, you really are something else. I had to look down to the score to make sure it was in fact the third quarter and not the end of the game.

It’s been talked about before in the Post Up but I’m going to say it again. I love watching Monta Ellis play and this Warriors team is the perfect fit for him.

After joining in on a live blog for the Raptors game Wednesday night, teams like the Warriors make me wish I could “live blog” their games. I suppose I could always do game notes… But, I love the interaction that blogging allows. Maybe for one of these upcoming games we could do a live “blog” with our comments. I couldn’t mentally handle it during a Laker game, and most of you are probably not going to be sitting at your computer while the game is on, but I still think it would be fun.

It is currently a 22-0 run for the Warriors. I LOVE the way Jax is always in the ear of his teammates. He has stepped up this season and he has proven to be a capable leader and team captain. Harrington has hit four three-pointers in this fourth quarter and it is only halfway done.

From nine points down to 13 points up. This is how the Warriors play this game and it is why they are so much fun to watch.

As if on cue, New Jersey goes on a an 18-4 surge of their own. Oh, we’ve got a close finish here.

Big games on the schedule for tonight! Detroit and Orlando, Phoenix and Cleveland, Lakers against Dallas and Portland plays Houston. Remember the game when Kobe had 62 in three quarters and outscored the entire Mav team? Yeah, me too and a Laker win tonight would make my weekend. I’m looking forward to the Detroit/Orlando game also and the Hornets are on the schedule and they are quickly becoming one of the top choices to watch all because of Chris Paul.

San Antonio 90 Miami 89

Another game and another loss for the Heat and this one stung a lot. After trailing for much of their contest against the Heat, Manu Ginobili scored with 36.5 seconds left in the game, completing a San Antonio comeback from 10 down in the second half and handing the Heat what was their 15th straight defeat. While the Spurs were coming off of a win against the Lakers the previous night and the Heat were playing in their first game since Monday, in the fourth it was Miami who looked fatigued as they scored only eight points over the final 8:50 of the game. After the Ginobili layup to put the Spurs up by two, Dwyane Wade drove to the basket but lost the ball with three seconds left and he helplessly watched the Spurs walk off of the court with the victory. Tim Duncan had another strong game for the Spurs, scoring 30 points and pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with 5 assists. Manu Ginobili was fantastic off of the bench with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, Tony Parker added 12 points and Michael Finley had 10. Since Shaquille O’Neal is out with the hip injury, the Heat started Mark Blount in his place and he finished with 23 points on 10-17 field goals. Wade finished with 27 points and 9 assists and Jason Williams scored 14. Udonis Haslem pulled down 12 rebounds for the Heat.

Milwaukee 104 Indiana 92

After a close first half that ended with Milwaukee leading 52-50, the Bucks were able to shake free of the Pacers as they used a 21-6 run spanning the second half of the third quarter and the opening minutes of the fourth to take an 11-point lead midway through the fourth. During the run, the Pacer offense stalled, as Indiana missed nine consecutive shots and watched the Bucks go ahead. Once the Bucks went on their scoring surge the Pacers would get no closer than eight for the rest of the game. Michael Redd scored 12 of his game-high 37 points in the final period as Milwaukee looked for him early and often on each possession and he led the Bucks to the victory. Bobby Simmons had 16 points and 8 boards, Andrew Bogut added 17 points and Mo Williams had 9 points and 9 assists. Mike Dunleavy scored 22 points in the loss, Danny Granger had 20 points and 9 rebounds and Travis Diener had 15 points and 9 assists in his first career start. Kareem Rush had 14 points and Jeff Foster added 13 for the Pacers.

Golden State 121 New Jersey 119

After a 22-point run to open the fourth quarter the Warriors went up by as many as 13 and it appeared as though they had the game in hand. Just as quickly as they had turned a nine-point deficit into their 13-point lead they watched as New Jersey did the same. The Nets went on an 18-4 run of their own to take a 112-111 advantage with 2:06 left in the game. The Warriors would bounce back to claim the victory thanks to four made free throws by Monta Ellis and a late layup by Baron Davis all in the final minute. Davis and Ellis were huge for the Warriors as Ellis finished with a career-high 39 points while Davis had a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals. Al Harrington had 19 points, Stephen Jackson added 13 points and 7 assists and Matt Barnes scored 13. The Nets were led by Richard Jefferson’s 34 points and 9 assists in the loss. Vince Carter had 29 points, Jason Kidd had 8 rebounds and 12 assists while being held to only 6 points and Antoine Wright had 13 points and 9 rebounds off of the bench. Josh Boone finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds as he shot 7-15 from both the floor and the free throw line where he was sent repeatedly at the end of the third quarter to try and slow the nets. A 34% free throw shooter, Boone hit 6-12 in the stretch to help the Nets go up by eight points to start the fourth.